Flow promoting material handling conveyance construction

Abstract

An abrasion resistant material is combined with a flow promoting material to provide a conveyance that is flow promoting and wear resistant. Holes formed in a UHMW conveyance allow a ceramic overlay to bond to itself creating a mechanical bond with the UHMW. In a first embodiment, a ceramic composite overlay is form fit to UHMW mixing paddle. The paddle has a tongue with holes therethrough. The ceramic overlay fills the holes creating a mechanical bond between the paddle and the ceramic composite. In another embodiment, a ceramic overlay is bonded to a steel insert received in a channel formed in the distal end of a mixing paddle.

I claim:  
     
       1. A mixing paddle suitable for mixing an abrasive material, said paddle comprising: 
       a base having at least one edge, and being fixable to a mixing mechanism which urges the paddle through the abrasive material;  
       an interlocking shape formed in said base proximal said edge; and  
       a protective material applied to said interlocking shape, whereby application of said protective material to said interlocking shape creates a mechanical bond between said protective material and said base, and said protective material is engagable with the abrasive material being mixed when said base is fixed to the mixing mechanism,  
       wherein said base is Ultra High Molecular Weight-polyethylene.  
     
     
       2. The paddle of claim  1 , in which said protective material wraps around said edge and extends into said interlocking shape. 
     
     
       3. The paddle of claim  1 , in which said protective material extends into said interlocking shape from opposing surfaces of said base, and bonds to itself to mechanically bond said protective material to said base. 
     
     
       4. The paddle of claim  1 , in which said protective material comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
       5. The paddle of claim  1 , including fasteners which fix said protective material to said base. 
     
     
       6. The paddle of claim  1 , wherein said interlocking shape is selected from the group consisting of holes, slots, and dovetails. 
     
     
       7. The paddle of claim  1 , wherein said base includes a stiffener. 
     
     
       8. The paddle of claim  7 , wherein said stiffener is enclosed by said base. 
     
     
       9. A mixing paddle suitable form mixing an abrasive material, said paddle comprising: 
       a base having at least one edge, and being fixable to a mixing mechanism which urges the paddle through the abrasive material;  
       an insert detachably secured to said base; and  
       a protective material fixed to said insert, wherein said protective material is engagable with the abrasive material being mixed when said base is fixed to the mixing mechanism,  
       wherein said base is Ultra High Molecular Weight-polyethylene.  
     
     
       10. The paddle of claim  9 , wherein said insert reinforces said base. 
     
     
       11. The paddle of claim  9 , in which said protective material comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
       12. The paddle of claim  9 , wherein said base includes a stiffener. 
     
     
       13. The paddle of claim  12 , wherein said stiffener is enclosed by said base.